The Election Commission of India recently announced the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to take place from April 19th to June 1st, with results expected on June 4th. Following this announcement, certain sections of social media, particularly those aligned with Islamist and leftist ideologies, began criticizing Indian democracy. One video making the rounds shows a journalist questioning the Election Commissioners about why they haven’t taken action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their alleged hate speeches. Sharing this video, the Islamists and leftists are suggesting that the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv kumar deliberately ignored or avoided addressing the question.
Drunk Journalist tweeted, ‘Why would he answer it? He knows what she said is true and he doesn’t have any answer to it.’
Photo Journalist Sumit Kumar wrote, ‘Can’t answer one question and they will conduct fair elections?’
एक सवाल का जवाब दे नहीं सकते और ये निष्पक्ष चुनाव करवाएंगे???? pic.twitter.com/Wu1I1tCbAG
— Sumit Kumar (@skphotography68) March 16, 2024
Leftist historian Ashok Kumar Pandey wrote, ‘Don’t know why they pretend to hold a press conference, issue a press note or come directly on TV and make the announcement. Bad poetry could have been recited anyway.’
पता नहीं क्यों प्रेस कांफ्रेंस का नाटक करते हैं, एक प्रेस नोट जारी कर देते या फिर सीधे टीवी पर आकर घोषणा कर देते।
— Ashok Kumar Pandey अशोक اشوک (@Ashok_Kashmir) March 16, 2024
घटिया शायरी तो वैसे भी सुना ही सकते थे। https://t.co/PtsVJUFQcL
Congress Journalist Dayashankar Mishra wrote on X, ‘Congratulations to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar for not taking action on hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and avoiding the question of targeting the opposition. The performance was spectacular. Now any post can be given from Padmashree to Bharat Ratna. Only such obedient and trouble-shooting officers kill democracy in the name of democracy.’
संकटमोचक राजीव कुमार…
— Dayashankar Mishra (@DayashankarMi) March 16, 2024
प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी और गृह मंत्री अमित शाह के ख़िलाफ़ हेट स्पीच पर कार्रवाई नहीं करने और विपक्ष को निशाना बनाने के सवाल को टालने के लिए मुख्य निर्वाचन आयुक्त राजीव कुमार को बधाई।परफार्मेंस धमाकेदार रही।
अब कोई भी पद और पद्मश्री से लेकर भारत रत्न तक… pic.twitter.com/GX1LhdWtn2
Congress journalist Apurva Bhardwaj tweeted, ‘The fearless journalist asked the Election Commissioner that you take action against the opposition leader when there is a hate speech complaint, but you do nothing in the case of Modi and Shah. The Commissioner who speaks poetry gets lost in his whistle.’
निडर पत्रकार ने चुनाव आयुक्त से पूछा कि आप हेट स्पीच की शिकायत होने पर विपक्ष के नेता पर एक्शन लेते है पर मोदी और शाह के मामले कुछ नही करते शायरी बोलने वालों आयुक्त जी की सिट्टी पिट्टी गुम हो जाती है 🙏 #ElectionCommission pic.twitter.com/kk5EhK2oa3
— अपूर्व اپوروا Apurva Bhardwaj (@grafidon) March 16, 2024
Islamist Journalist Nigar Parveen wrote, ‘Think these are the people who conduct fair elections. He started panting while answering a question. That’s why Saheb did not hold a single press conference in the last 10 years?’
सोचिए ये निष्पक्ष चुनाव कराने वाले लोग हैं
— Nigar Parveen (@NigarNawab) March 16, 2024
एक सवाल का जवाब देने में हांफने लगे। गले का पानी सूख गया
तभी साहेब ने पूरे 10 साल में एक प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस नहीं की ?https://t.co/TMvnDn3G5a
While posting a video on Twitter, Congress leader Alka Lamba wrote, “Look at the irony that the Chief Election Commissioner cannot answer a journalist’s straightforward and simple question, and it is their responsibility to conduct impartial elections throughout the country in a democracy!”
Congress leader Udit Raj wrote, “In today’s press conference, a journalist from National Herald asked the Chief Election Commissioner why no notice is issued when Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah violate the Model Code of Conduct, but no response was given by the Chief Election Commissioner. Merely calling India the world’s largest democracy won’t suffice, give us answers, otherwise why bother saying so?”
आज की प्रेस वार्ता में नेशनल हेराल्ड के पत्रकार ने मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त से सवाल पूछा मॉडल कोड ऑफ़ कंडक्ट का उलंघन जब पीएम मोदी और गृह मंत्री शाह करते है तो क्यों नही कोई नोटिस जारी किया जाता? मुख्य चुनाव आयुक्त ने कोई जवाब नही दिया।भारत दुनियाँ का सबसे बड़ा लोकतंत्र कहने से नही…
— Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) March 16, 2024
In addition to this, Congress leaders Nitin Agrawal, Vijay, Mr. R. Gandhi, Amarendra Khalbali, M.M. Dheera, Samiullah Khan, Aparna Agrawal, 6paT, and Aditya Goswami have also shared this video.
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Fact Check
Our investigation led us to the live broadcast of today’s press conference on the Election Commission’s official YouTube channel. Lasting one hour and thirty-four minutes, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addressed various aspects of the upcoming electoral programs across the nation for approximately fifty-eight minutes. Throughout the video, the individual managing the microphone adeptly signaled the process for questions, indicating that a cluster of queries would be entertained before moving on to the next journalist. Notably, multiple journalists posed their questions simultaneously during the session, prompting Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to attentively acknowledge and address each inquiry.
In the widely circulated video, journalist Ashlin Mathew can be seen posing a question at precisely one hour and forty-six seconds into the press conference. She highlights the Election Commission’s commitment to ensuring a hate-speech-free electoral environment and adherence to the Model Code of Conduct. However, Mathew raises concerns about the perceived discrepancy in the Commission’s response to complaints lodged against Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah compared to actions taken against leaders from opposition parties.
Furthermore, we observed that following journalist Ashlin Mathew’s question, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addressed the first round of questions after another journalist posed an inquiry. At precisely one hour and two minutes into the press conference, Rajiv Kumar indicated his intention to address the initial set of queries. Subsequently, at one hour, ten minutes, and twenty seconds, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar responded to journalist Ashlin Mathew’s inquiry. Kumar acknowledged that Mathew’s question pertained to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and raised concerns about perceived bias in the Commission’s actions regarding complaints against certain individuals. Kumar clarified that they are not merely addressing the question but addressing allegations of bias. He emphasized the importance of examining the notices issued for allegations during past elections and the subsequent responses received. Kumar reiterated that the Commission has taken action wherever violence has been established, following responses to such notices. He emphasized that regardless of the stature of a campaigner, if allegations are substantiated, the Commission will not hesitate to take appropriate action.
In conclusion, our investigation unequivocally indicates that the viral video has been tampered with. Contrary to the edited footage, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar diligently acknowledged and addressed multiple journalists’ questions collectively during the press conference. Notably, the Election Commission ensured journalist Ashlin Mathew’s inquiry was duly answered. The intention behind circulating the video is clear: it aims to damage the reputation of the Election Commission.
| Claim | Chief Election Commissioner didn’t answer the journalist’s questions during the press conference. |
| Claimed by | Congress leaders, Islamists and Communists |
| Fact Check | False |
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